Abstract:

Corp root, an important organ for absorbing water and nutrients and synthesizing growth regulator, has a direct influence on the crop growth and yield. Roots play a remarkable role in dryland agriculture under serious soil water restriction. However, the research on crop root system is not so thorough as that on aerial parts of crop for lack of advanced root treating techniques, suggesting that the study on roots is very important for the further improvement of the yield. The pot culture experiment was conducted on the Experimental Farm of Shanxi Agricultural University to determine if supplemental irrigation and/or application of soil amendments rich in organic matter could improve root growth of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Root length, root weight, root activity, adventitious root number, root total and active absorbing areas, root SOD and POD activities, root MDA content and root-to-shoot ratio of winter wheat were studied under three levels of soil moisture (13%, 16%, 20%) and three levels of fertilization (0,333,and 666 g cattle manure per pot were measured) during 2003–2004. The results indicated that the content of MDA and the ratio of root to canopy were increased, but the dry weight of root, total root length, adventitious root number, root activity, the SOD and POD activities of root, the total and active absorbing areas decreased significantly with drought treatment regardless of fertilizing or not; root growth, root physiological characteristics, seedling growth, the water use efficiency and the yield as well as drought resistance were improved (Table 3); the highest yield of wheat was found under F₃(666 g/kg) and W3(soil water capacity 20%) treatment;. the activity of soil enzymes (Fig.2), especially in the rhizosphere could be increased by manure application, resulting in the improvement of soil nutrients, especially in the rhizosphere and enhancing the nutrients absorption and growth in wheat.

Key words: Winter wheat, Manure, Water stress, Roots